Bicycle-brake.



Patented Feb. 20, i900.

. R. WERNER. BICYCLE BRAKE.

(Application tiled. July 31, 1897.)

(No Model.)

Wl TNESSESZ @W4 /mw BY f ATTORNEY Tn: Norms PETERS cn, Puoaufno., wAsNmr-Yon, n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF VERNER, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

BICYC LE-BRAK E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,757, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed .Tuly 31,1897. Serial No. 646,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF WERNER, engineer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 169 Queen street, Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,have invented a certain new and useful Improved Brake Mechanism for Bicycles, Tricycles, and Similar Vehicles, (for which provisional protection was applied for in the Colony of Victoria on the 20throf May, 1897, and numbered 14310,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a light yet thoroughly reliable and effective brake for cycles of all kinds. The devices that have hitherto been used have-when on the outside of the steering-.pillar proved both cumbersome and unsightly, and when on the inside of the handle-bar stem they have been so complicated as to become rapidly deranged; but with my invention, in which all the parts are inside the handle-bar stem and steeringpillar, these objections do not exist, since the said parts are but few and of such a character that derangement is practically impossible. All that the rider has to do in order to apply the brake is to press downwardly upon the two handles, which, descending a small distance, press the brake upon the tire. Since the normal strain which a rider applies to his handles is upward, it follows that when wishing to retard his speed it is quite natural for him to press downwardly. By so doing he applies the brake, though my mechanism can be so arranged as to operate with equal facility when the handles are pulled upward.

My invention consists of a handle-bar which is pivoted in a bearing at the top of the han-4 dle-bar stem and is therefore capable of partially rotating therein. Secured to the handle-bar and passing downwardly through the bottom of the handle-bar tube and the bearing is a lever.A This is narrower at its point than at its top and travels backward and forward longitudinally with the machine as the handles are elevated or depressed. Pressing up against the bottom of the lever is a vertically-traveling cap-piece,the top face of which is inclined at the slipping angle. When the brake is unapplied, the bottom of the lever presses against the lower side of the incline;

but whenthe handles are depressed the lever crosses to the other side of the tube and sliding over the inclined face of the cap-piece forces it downwardly. The brake is thus applied.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the whole of the mechanism when removed from the handle-bar stem. The brake is unapplied, but in dotted lines is shown the position of the handle-bars and lever when the brake is thrust upon the tire. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the whole mechanism in situ'. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent sectional plans through the dotted lines shown to the left of them and passing through Fig. 2.

On reference to the drawings it will be seen that the handles A are secured to the handlebar tube B, which latter is free to turn in the bearing C. This latter is secured to the top of the handle-bar stem D and is covered by a cap-piece E, locked by screws or other wellknown means. Passing through the bottom of the bearing and up into the handle-bar tube is a lever F, the length of which may vary to suit either the machine orthe rider. This passes through a suitable hole in the bottom of the handle-bar tube (reinforced for the purpose) and the top of it into another hole of any suitable shape in the top of the said tube. It is then brazed or rendered rigid by any desirable method. This lever on its bottom is narrow enough to move backward and forward in the stem. Pressing against thebottom end of vthe lever is the traveling cap-piece G. The face of this is inclined, as shown, and across its middle is a recessed pathway H for the travel of F. The hole I, Fig. 4, which is threaded, is for lifting and removing this cap-piece if the inversion of the machine is convenient, while the object of recessin g the pathway is to prevent the cap from working around into an unnatural position. As will be seen, the lower edge or leading portion of the inclined face is slightly sunken, by which means the weight of the handle or any shock imparted to the machine while in motion fails to operate the brake, since the bottom of the lever remains in the sunken portion until an appreciabledownward pressure is applied to the handles.

On the under side of the cap-piece is a cen- IOO tral hole, into which fits loosely a telescopic adj usting-rod R, the top of which is threaded for its removal by a suitable spanner and the bottom pointed for entrance into the tube around it. This rod by an internally-tapered nut J is locked to the brake-tube K, the top or" which is split and contracts onto the said rod. The bottom ot` it is secured to lthe brake-block cover. For the turning of the nut a special spanner is employed, lugs at the bottom of which iit into recesses L in the flanges M of the said nut, Fig. 5. Around this brake-tube is encircled a spiral spring, the bottom end of which presses against the flange of a distance-tube N. This rests on the bottom plate O of the front-fork crownpiece andhas removed from its diametrically opposite sides two slots to clear the guideplate P. This latter prevents the t-ube K from turning, since it is brazed or otherwise secured across the said tube and passes through suitable slots in the plate O. The bottom of K is secured to the brake-block cover Q, as may also be the bottom edge of the plate P.

For the elevation of the rod R from the steering-tube or its adjustment within the telescopic tube K a tubular double-ended spanner is employed. This has at one end a threaded hole to screw onto the end of R and at the other two lugs to turn the nut J.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by a simple axial movement of the handle-bar the brake is applied.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bicycle-brake, the combination with a steering tube or pillar having a guide-slot, of a brake-shoe, a guide-plate secured thereto which moves in the slot, a brake-tube connected to the brake-shoe and straddling the guide-plate and connected to it, means for operating the brake-tube, a nut or head on the brake-tube, a split distance-tube loosely straddlin g the guide-plate and resting on the steering-tube, and a spring interposed between the top of the distance-tube and the head or nut, whereby the brake is kept normally elevated.

2. In a bicycle-brake, the combination with a steering tube or pillar, of a brake-shoe, a guide-plate secured thereto slidable in the steering-tube, a brake-tube secured to the brake-shoe, a brake-rod telescoping with the brake-tube and secured thereto, a cap-piece secured to the rod which has an inclined face, an axially-rotatable handle-bar, a lever secured thereto and located within the steering-tube whose free end is adapted to ride on the incline of the cap-piece, a distance-tube straddling the guide-plate and resting on the steering-tube, and a spring bearing on said distance-tube which is adapted to actuate the brake tube and rod to hold the shoe normally raised.

In a bicycle-brake, the combination with the steering-tube orstem, of a cap-piece having an inclined top, a brake-shoe connected to the cap-piece, an axially-rotatable handlebar, a lever secured to the handle-bar which projects down into the stem or steering-tube with its lower end positioned to ride on the incline and depress the cap-piece when the handle-bar is depressed, said lever lying in contact with the side of the steering-tube when inoperative, whereby it resists upward movement of the handle-bar and a spring adapted to hold the brake-shoe and cap-piece normally raised, with the latter in position for engagement by the free end of the lever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two Witnesses.

RUDOLF VERNER.

Tit-n esses:

EDWIN PHILLIPs, CECIL WooDs Ln PLAs'rRIEi-i. 

